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Julian smiled.
“So are you,” she told him. Cassia reached for the glass, waiting for him to drink first.
As he brought the rim to his lips, she followed, allowing the flavor of blackberry and notes of vanilla to dance over her tongue. Her body relaxed with a second deep draw of wine.
“I’m not going to hurt you. We can help each other,” she said.
“But we already have,” he countered. “Do you like pizza?”
“Pizza?” She looked to the woodburning oven.
“I thought on ordering out but it’s a little too late. Which means you’re in luck.”
“Funny. When I think of my life, lucky isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But okay, let’s go with it. It’s been a day.” Cassia took another drink of her wine and smiled up at him.
“I make the best pizza in New Orleans.”
“A wolf who makes pizza?”
“You know it. It is the ultimate bachelor’s go-to after all.”
Single? “Pizza works.”
“Spent a lot of time in Italy. New York.”
“But we’re in New Orleans.”
“Yes, we are.” He smiled.
“What about your pack?” Cassia had already begun sensing his loneliness.
“I don’t have a pack.” Julian moved behind the kitchen counter. He spun a large wooden bowl and reached for the dough. “I’m going to tell you something because I think it’s time we clear the bullshit. I’m too old for bullshit.”
“Same.” Cassia laughed and nodded, raising her glass. “All right then. What the hell. I’m down. You go first.”
Julian wore a sexy smile as he tossed the dough onto the counter and sprinkled flour onto the mound. Kneading dough, he spoke with a direct tone.
“I’m an ancient wolf. Older than most in the world. For a long time, there were people who wanted to see my family dead. Hundreds of years have gone by while I’ve been in hiding. I’ve recently outed myself because I love my sister and she needed help. She’s mated to a wolf in Wyoming, and long story short, one of the wolves in her new pack was saved by an ancient vampire, but now there’s a bit of an issue. I’m now babysitting a hybrid baby vamp wolf.”
“A baby vampire?”
“He’s a newly turned vampire, but he’s still a wolf through and through. The little shit is going to be an Alpha himself one day … he doesn’t really know it yet though.”
“It sounds like you’re being a good friend.’ Cassia watched in fascination as Julian began working the dough with his hands. With strong dexterous fingers, he worked his magic, punching it down and then kneading.
She imagined his hands on her skin, sucked a breath and took another sip of her wine, attempting to hide the heat creeping up her neck. Jesus Christ, what was it about this man that made her wish she was a ball of dough?
“Yeah, well, that’s the thing,” he shrugged. “I try to do the right thing. But being alone, I had a little less…”
“Family?”
“Family? Yeah, I guess you could put it that way. Except for the ancient vampire and baby vamp. Not sure how you’d class them.”
“You and the older vampire are taking care of the baby vamp together?”
“Yeah, mostly us the past week but the other vamp. The parent vamp…the one who is off in Sardinia for a get away with his new toy … yes that guy has taken care of him too.”
“Sounds like family to me.” A deep longing for her own family stabbed her chest.
